Zoom lens and imaging apparatus

ABSTRACT

The zoom lens includes a positive first lens group, a negative second lens group, a positive third lens group, a negative fourth lens group, a negative fifth lens group, and a positive sixth lens group in order from an object side. All distances between adjacent lens groups change during zooming. The first lens group consists of a negative lens, a positive lens, and a positive lens in order from the object side. Only the fourth lens group moves to an image side during focusing from a long range to a short range. Conditional Expression is related to lateral magnification of the fourth lens group and a lateral magnification of the sixth lens group is satisfied.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a Divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/220,104 filed on Dec. 14, 2018, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-244501, filed on Dec. 20, 2017. The above application is hereby expressly incorporated by reference, in its entirety, into the present application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a zoom lens and an imaging apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art

In the related art, in an interchangeable lens to be used in a digital camera, there is a need for a so-called zoom lens with a high zoom ratio capable of performing imaging by using one lens without interchanging the lens from a wide angle region to a telephoto region. For example, JP2017-134302A and JP6189637B describe a zoom lens that takes cognizance of a high zoom ratio available for a digital camera.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Since such a zoom lens with a high zoom ratio which does not require the interchange of a lens is useful in a situation in which a user does not want to carry a plurality of lenses, that is, a situation in which the user does not want to increase their luggage, there is a need for a small zoom lens. Since the zoom lens with a high zoom ratio is used in imaging such as imaging in a wide composition from a wide angle to telephoto and imaging in a wide range from distant view to near view, it is desirable that high-quality images are able to be obtained in all these situations. In recent years, the number of imaging pixels of the imaging element used by being combined with the zoom lens increases, and advanced aberration correction is required in the zoom lens.

However, the zoom lens described in JP2017-134302A has a problem that it is difficult to compose a small lens system since a backfocus and the total length of the lens are long even though the backfocus and the total length of the lens are converted by using the size of the imaging element as a reference. The zoom lens described in JP6189637B has a problem that it is difficult to secure high quality from the distant view to the near view since fluctuation in aberration during focusing is high.

In view of such circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a zoom lens which achieves reduction in size and has high optical performance obtained by satisfactorily correcting various aberrations with regard to imaging over the entire zooming range and from distant view to near view while securing a high zoom ratio, and an imaging apparatus comprising the zoom lens.

In order to solve the problems, a zoom lens according to the present invention comprises only six lens groups, as lens groups, which consist of a first lens group having a positive refractive power, a second lens group having a negative refractive power, a third lens group having a positive refractive power, a fourth lens group having a negative refractive power, a fifth lens group having a negative refractive power, and a sixth lens group having a positive refractive power, in order from an object side to an image side. All distances between adjacent lens groups in an optical axis direction change during zooming, a stop is disposed between a lens surface of the second lens group closest to the image side and a lens surface of the fourth lens group closest to the image side, the first lens group consists of a negative lens, a positive lens, and a positive lens in order from the object side to the image side, a lens group moving during focusing is only the fourth lens group, and the fourth lens group moves to the image side during focusing from an object with a long range to an object with a short range, and assuming that a lateral magnification of the fourth lens group at a telephoto end during focusing on an object at infinity is β4T, a lateral magnification of the fourth lens group at a wide-angle end during focusing on the object at infinity is β4W, a lateral magnification of the sixth lens group at the telephoto end during focusing on the object at infinity is β6T, and a lateral magnification of the sixth lens group at the wide-angle end during focusing on the object at infinity is β6W, Conditional Expression (1) is satisfied.

1.5<(β4T/β4W)/(β6T/β6W)<2.5   (1)

In the zoom lens according to the present invention, it is preferable that Conditional Expression (1-1) is satisfied.

1.75<(β4T/β4W)/(β6T/β6W)<2.25   (1-1)

In the zoom lens according to the present invention, assuming that a focal length of the first lens group is f1 and a focal length of the sixth lens group is f6, it is preferable that Conditional Expression (2) is satisfied and it is more preferable that Conditional Expression (2-1) is satisfied.

0.95<f1/f6<1.9   (2)

1.1<f1/f6<1.7   (2-1)

In the zoom lens according to the present invention, assuming that a focal length of the second lens group is f2 and a focal length of the sixth lens group is f6, it is preferable that Conditional Expression (3) is satisfied, and it is more preferable that Conditional Expression (3-1) is satisfied.

−0.28<f2/f6<−0.11   (3)

−0.25<f2/f6<−0.14   (3-1)

In the zoom lens according to the present invention, assuming that a lens of the third lens group closest to the object side is a positive lens and an Abbe number of the positive lens of the third lens group closest to the object side at a d line is v3f, it is preferable that Conditional Expression (4) is satisfied, and it is more preferable that Conditional Expression (4-1) is satisfied.

25<ν3f<49   (4)

28<ν3f<45   (4-1)

In the zoom lens according to the present invention, assuming that a lens of the third lens group closest to the image side is a positive lens and an Abbe number of the positive lens of the third lens group closest to the image side at a d line is ν3r, it is preferable that Conditional Expression (5) is satisfied, and it is more preferable that Conditional Expression (5-1) is satisfied.

57<ν3r<97   (5)

62<ν3r<87   (5-1)

In the zoom lens according to the present invention, it is preferable that a lens of the third lens group closest to the image side is a positive lens and image shake correction is performed by moving the positive lens of the third lens group closest to the image side in a direction crossing an optical axis.

In the zoom lens according to the present invention, assuming that a distance on an optical axis between a lens surface of the third lens group closest to the image side at a wide-angle end and a lens surface of the fourth lens group closest to the object side at the wide-angle end is D34W and a distance on the optical axis between a lens surface of the third lens group closest to the image side at a telephoto end and a lens surface of the fourth lens group closest to the object side at the telephoto end is D34T, it is preferable that Conditional Expression (6) is satisfied or it is more preferable that Conditional Expression (6-1) is satisfied.

0.2<D34W/D34T<1.2   (6)

0.3<D34W/D34T<1   (6-1)

In the zoom lens according to the present invention, it is preferable that all lens surfaces of the sixth lens group have shapes convex toward the image side.

In the zoom lens according to the present invention, assuming that an average of Abbe numbers of positive lenses within the first lens group at a d line is ν1pave, it is preferable that Conditional Expression (7) is satisfied.

67<ν1pave<97   (7)

In the zoom lens according to the present invention, it is preferable that the third lens group consists of a single lens having a positive refractive power, a single lens having a positive refractive power, a cemented lens obtained by cementing a negative lens and a positive lens in order from the object side, and a single lens having a positive refractive power in order from the object side to the image side.

In the zoom lens according to the present invention, it is preferable that the fourth lens group consists of a cemented lens obtained by cementing a positive lens and a negative lens in order from the object side.

In the zoom lens according to the present invention, it is preferable that the fifth lens group consists of a single lens having a negative refractive power.

In the zoom lens according to the present invention, it is preferable that the sixth lens group consists of a single lens having a positive refractive power.

An imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment comprises the zoom lens according to the present invention.

In the present description, it should be noted that the terms “consisting of ˜” and “consists of ˜” mean that the imaging lens may include not only the above-mentioned elements but also lenses substantially having no refractive powers, optical elements, which are not lenses, such as a stop, a filter, and a cover glass, and mechanism parts such as a lens flange, a lens barrel, an imaging element, and a camera shake correction mechanism in addition to the illustrated constituent elements.

In the present description, the term “˜ group that has a positive refractive power” means that the group has a positive refractive power as a whole. Likewise, the term “˜ group that has a negative refractive power” means that the group has a negative refractive power as a whole. The “lens having a positive refractive power” and the “positive lens” are synonymous. The “lens having a negative refractive power” and the “negative lens” are synonymous. The “lens group” is not to limit to a configuration consisting of a plurality of lenses, and may consist of only one lens. The “single lens” means one lens which is not cemented. Here, a complex aspherical lens (a lens functions as one aspherical lens as a whole by integrally forming a spherical lens and an aspherical film formed on the spherical lens) is not regarded as a cemented lens, and is treated as one lens. It is assumed that a reference sign of a refractive power related to a lens including an aspherical surface and a surface shape of a lens surface are considered in paraxial region unless otherwise noted. The “focal length” used in Conditional Expressions is a paraxial focal length. Values in Conditional Expressions are values in a case where the d line (a wavelength of 587.6 nanometers (nm)) is used as a reference in a state in which the object at infinity is in focus.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a zoom lens which achieves reduction in size and has high optical performance obtained by satisfactorily correcting various aberrations with regard to imaging over the entire zooming range and from distant view to near view while securing a high zoom ratio, and an imaging apparatus comprising the zoom lens.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a lens configuration and a movement locus of a zoom lens (a zoom lens according to Example 1) according to an embodiment of the present invention at a wide-angle end.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration and optical paths of the zoom lens according to Example 1 of the present invention at a wide-angle end, a middle focal length state, and a telephoto end.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a lens configuration and a movement locus of a zoom lens according to Example 2 of the present invention at the wide-angle end.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a lens configuration and a movement locus of a zoom lens according to Example 3 of the present invention at the wide-angle end.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a lens configuration and a movement locus of a zoom lens according to Example 4 of the present invention at the wide-angle end.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a lens configuration and a movement locus of a zoom lens according to Example 5 of the present invention at the wide-angle end.

FIG. 7 is a diagram of aberrations of the zoom lens according to Example 1 of the present invention during focusing on an object at infinity.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of aberrations of the zoom lens according to Example 1 of the present invention during focusing on an object at a finite distance.

FIG. 9 is a diagram of aberrations of the zoom lens according to Example 2 of the present invention during focusing on an object at infinity.

FIG. 10 is a diagram of aberrations of the zoom lens according to Example 2 of the present invention during focusing on an object at a finite distance.

FIG. 11 is a diagram of aberrations of the zoom lens according to Example 3 of the present invention during focusing on an object at infinity.

FIG. 12 is a diagram of aberrations of the zoom lens according to Example 3 of the present invention during focusing on an object at a finite distance.

FIG. 13 is a diagram of aberrations of the zoom lens according to Example 4 of the present invention during focusing on an object at infinity.

FIG. 14 is a diagram of aberrations of the zoom lens according to Example 4 of the present invention during focusing on an object at a finite distance.

FIG. 15 is a diagram of aberrations of the zoom lens according to Example 5 of the present invention during focusing on an object at infinity.

FIG. 16 is a diagram of aberrations of the zoom lens according to Example 5 of the present invention during focusing on an object at a finite distance.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an imaging apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention when viewed from a front side.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of an imaging apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention when viewed from a rear side.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a lens configuration of a zoom lens of an embodiment of the present invention at the wide-angle end. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view additionally illustrating optical paths of the zoom lens in the respective states. The examples shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 correspond to the zoom lens of Example 1 to be described later. FIGS. 1 and 2 each show a state where the object at infinity is in focus, where the left side of the drawing is the object side and the right side of the drawing is the image side. In FIG. 2, the upper part labeled by “WIDE” shows the wide-angle end state, the middle part labeled by “MIDDLE” shows the middle focal length state, and the lower part labeled by “TELE” shows the telephoto end state. FIG. 2 shows rays including on-axis rays wa and rays with the maximum angle of view wb at the wide-angle end state, on-axis rays ma and rays with the maximum angle of view mb at the middle focal length state, and on-axis rays to and rays with the maximum angle of view tb at the telephoto end state. Hereinafter, the description will be primarily made with reference to FIG. 1.

In FIG. 1, it is assumed that the zoom lens is applied to the imaging apparatus, and an example in which an optical member PP having an incident surface and an exit surface parallel to each other is disposed between the zoom lens and the image plane Sim is illustrated. The optical member PP is a member assumed to include various filters and/or a cover glass. The various filters are, for example, a low-pass filter, an infrared cut filter, and a filter for cutting a specific wavelength range. The optical member PP is a member having no refractive power, and may be omitted.

The zoom lens of the present embodiment comprises only six lens groups, as lens groups, which consist of a first lens group G1 having a positive refractive power, a second lens group G2 having a negative refractive power, a third lens group G3 having a positive refractive power, a fourth lens group G4 having a negative refractive power, a fifth lens group G5 having a negative refractive power, and a sixth lens group G6 having a positive refractive power in order from the object side to the image side along the optical axis Z. All distances between the adjacent lens groups in the optical axis direction change during zooming from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end. In such a configuration, there is an advantage in shortening the total length of the lens. More specifically, in such a configuration, it is possible to reduce the movement amount of the lens groups during zooming, and it is possible to shorten the total length of the lens. There is an advantage in achieving a high zoom ratio while securing telecentric properties. Particularly, in a case where the zoom lens according to the present embodiment is applied to a mirrorless camera having short backfocus, these advantages are more remarkable.

In the example of FIG. 1, all the lens groups move in the optical axis direction with different loci during zooming from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end. In FIG. 1, a schematic movement locus of each lens group during zooming from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end is indicated by a curved arrow under each lens group.

In the zoom lens according to the present embodiment, an aperture stop St is disposed between a lens surface of the second lens group G2 closest to the image side and a lens surface of the fourth lens group G4 closest to the image side. There is an advantage in reducing the diameter of the lens by disposing the aperture stop St in this manner More specifically, it is preferable that the aperture stop St is disposed between the lens surface of the second lens group G2 closest to the image side and a lens surface of the third lens group G3 closest to the object side, as shown in the example of FIG. 1. In such a case, since the aperture stop St is located between the lens group and the lens group, there is an advantage in securing the distance between the lens groups and the distance between the aperture stop St and the lens group, and there is an advantage in reducing the diameter of the lens closest to the object side.

The lens group moving during focusing (hereinafter, referred to as a focus group) is only the fourth lens group G4, and the fourth lens group G4 is configured to move toward the image side during focusing from an object with a long range to an object with a short range. An arrow pointing an image-side direction under the fourth lens group G4 of FIG. 1 means that the fourth lens group G4 moves toward the image side during focusing from the object at infinity to the object with a short range. Since the fourth lens group G4 is the lens group immediately behind the lens surface of the third lens group G3 having the positive refractive power which is closest to the image side, it is possible to reduce the size of the lens in the diameter direction, and it is easy to reduce the weight of the lens. Accordingly, there is an advantage for high-speed focusing. It is easy to reduce fluctuation in aberration and fluctuation in angle of view during focusing by using the fourth lens group G4 as the focus group.

The first lens group G1 has the positive refractive power as a whole. The lens group closest to the object side is the positive lens group, and thus, there is an advantage in shortening the total length of the lens. Accordingly, it is easy to reduce the size of the lens. The first lens group G1 consists of three lenses composed of a negative lens, a positive lens, and a positive lens in order from the object side to the image side. It is possible to correct longitudinal chromatic aberration, lateral chromatic aberration, and spherical aberration by using the negative lens closest to the object side. The first lens group G1 has the two positive lenses, and thus, it is possible to secure the positive refractive power of the first lens group G1 while suppressing the occurrence of the spherical aberration. Accordingly, it is possible to shorten the total length of the lens. In the example of FIG. 1, the first lens group G1 consists of three lenses such as a negative lens L11, a positive lens L12, and a positive lens L13 in order from the object side to the image side.

The second lens group G2 has the negative refractive power as a whole. The second lens group G2 is the negative lens group, and thus, the second lens group G2 can have a main function of zooming. In the example of FIG. 1, the second lens group G2 consists of four lenses such as a negative lens L21, a negative lens L22, a positive lens L23, and a negative lens L24 in order from the object side to the image side.

The third lens group G3 has the positive refractive power as a whole. The third lens group G3 is the positive lens group, and thus, the third lens group G3 can have a main positive refractive function of the entire system. In the example of FIG. 1, the third lens group G3 consists of five lenses such as a positive lens L31, a positive lens L32, a negative lens L33, a positive lens L34, and a positive lens L35 in order from the object side to the image side.

It is preferable that the lens of the third lens group G3 closest to the object side is the positive lens. In such a case, divergent rays from the second lens group G2 are received by the positive lens of the third lens group G3 closest to the object side, and thus, it is possible to restrain the diameter of the lens closer to the image side from being further enlarged than the diameter of this positive lens. There is an advantage in suppressing the occurrence of the spherical aberration.

It is preferable that the lens of the third lens group G3 closest to the image side is the positive lens. In such a case, there is an advantage in reducing the lens diameter of the fourth lens group G4 which is the focus group.

In a case where the lens of the third lens group G3 closest to the image side is the positive lens, it is preferable that image shake correction is performed by moving the positive lens of the third lens group G3 closest to the image side in the direction crossing the optical axis Z. That is, it is preferable that the lens group moving during the image shake correction (hereinafter, referred to as an anti-vibration lens group) consists of the positive lens of the third lens group G3 closest to the image side. Assuming that an image forming magnification of the anti-vibration lens group is βs and a combination image forming magnification of the lens group closer to the image side than the anti-vibration lens group is βr, anti-vibration sensitivity is expressed by (1−βs)×βr. In the group configuration of the zoom lens according to the present embodiment, an image forming magnification of the positive lens of the third lens group G3 closest to the image side tends to be negative and combination image forming magnification of the fourth lens group G4 to the sixth lens group G6 tend to be positive. In this regard, in a case where the positive lens of the third lens group G3 closest to the image side is the anti-vibration lens group, the zoom lens is optimized for securing sensitivity related to anti-vibration, and it is possible to reduce the movement amount of the anti-vibration lens group during the image shake correction. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the fluctuation in aberration during the image shake correction. In the example of FIG. 1, the lens L35 is the anti-vibration lens group, and an up-down arrow under the lens group L35 of FIG. 1 means that the lens L35 is the anti-vibration lens group.

It is preferable that the third lens group G3 consists of five lenses such as a single lens having a positive refractive power, a single lens having a positive refractive power, a cemented lens obtained by cementing the negative lens and the positive lens in order from the object side, and a single lens having a positive refractive power in order from the object side to the image side. In such a case, it is easy to reduce the diameter of the lens, and it is easy to suppress the occurrence of the spherical aberration and the longitudinal chromatic aberration.

Assuming that the third lens group G3 preferably consists of the five lenses, it is possible to acquire the following advantages more specifically. The divergent rays from the second lens group G2 are gently converted into convergent rays by these two positive lenses by using the first and second single lenses each having the positive refractive power which are included in the third lens group G3 from the object side, and thus, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of the spherical aberration while restraining the diameter of the lens closer to the image side than these two positive lenses from increasing. Due to the use of the cemented lens consisting of the third and fourth lenses of the third lens group G3 from the object side, it is possible to correct the longitudinal chromatic aberration, and it is possible to correct color blurring in the optical axis direction which is caused by the longitudinal chromatic aberration. Off-axis rays closer to the image side than the third lens group G3 are not able to be far away from the optical axis Z by using the positive lens of the third lens group G3 closest to the image side, and it is possible to reduce the lens diameter of the lens group closer to the image side than the third lens group G3.

The fourth lens group G4 has the negative refractive power as a whole. The fourth lens group G4 is the negative lens group, and thus, it is possible to correct fluctuation in astigmatism caused by the zooming.

It is preferable that the fourth lens group G4 consists of a cemented lens obtained by cementing a positive lens and a negative lens in order from the object side. In such a case, it is possible to suppress fluctuation in color blurring during the focusing which is caused by the lateral chromatic aberration and the longitudinal chromatic aberration. The fourth lens group G4 which is the focus group consists of the cemented lens, and thus, it is possible to simplify a frame of the focus group. Accordingly, there is an advantage in achieving high-speed focusing. In the example of FIG. 1, the fourth lens group G4 consists of two lenses including a positive lens L41 and a negative lens L42 in order from the object side to the image side, and these lenses are cemented.

The fifth lens group G5 has the negative refractive power as a whole. The fifth lens group G5 is the negative lens group, and thus, it is possible to correct the fluctuation in astigmatism caused by the zooming.

It is preferable that the fifth lens group G5 consists of a single lens having the negative refractive power. In a case where the number of lenses of the fifth lens group G5 increases, there is a concern that interference with a focusing drive system in the vicinity and a member around a mount will occur due to the complication of a frame and a cam mechanism, and the lens becomes bulky in the radial direction in a case where there is an attempt to avoid the interference. In view of such circumstances, it is preferable that the fifth lens group G5 consists of one lens. In the example of FIG. 1, the fifth lens group G5 consists of one lens such as a lens L51 which is a negative Meniscus lens convex toward the image side.

The sixth lens group G6 has the positive refractive power as a whole. The sixth lens group G6 is the positive lens group, and thus, it is possible to reduce an incidence angle of rays with a peripheral angle of view on the image plane Sim.

It is preferable that the sixth lens group G6 consists of a single lens having a positive refractive power. In a case where the number of lenses of the sixth lens group G6 increases and thus, a thickness increases, the refractive power of the second lens group G2 or a combined refractive power of the fourth lens group G4 and the fifth lens group G5 needs to be strengthened in order to maintain the backfocus, and the fluctuation in spherical aberration and the fluctuation in astigmatism may increase in a case where the refractive power is strengthened. In view of such circumstances, it is preferable that the sixth lens group G6 consists of one lens. In the example of FIG. 1, the sixth lens group G6 consists of one lens such as a lens L61 which is a positive Meniscus lens convex toward the image side.

It is preferable that all the lens surfaces of the sixth lens group G6 each have a shape convex toward the image side. In a case where the zoom lens is mounted on the imaging apparatus, the combination of the zoom lens and an imaging element disposed on the image plane Sim is generally used, and the sixth lens group G6 is the lens group closest to the imaging element in this case. In a case where the lens surface concave toward the image side is present as a surface close to the imaging element, since reflection rays from the member in the vicinity of the imaging element are returned to the imaging element again and are rendered to stray rays, there is an advantage in suppressing the stray rays by allowing all the lens surfaces of the sixth lens group G6 to be convex toward the image side. Particularly, it is possible to acquire a high advantage in a lens system having a short backfocus such as an imaging lens system mounted on the mirrorless camera.

In the zoom lens according to the present embodiment, in a state where the object at infinity is in focus, assuming that a lateral magnification of the fourth lens group G4 at the telephoto end is β4T, a lateral magnification of the fourth lens group G4 at the wide-angle end is β4W, a lateral magnification of the sixth lens group G6 at the telephoto end is β6T, and a lateral magnification of the sixth lens group G6 at the wide-angle end is β6W, the following Conditional Expression (1) is satisfied. By not allowing the result of Conditional Expression (1) to be equal to or less than a lower limit, a zooming function of the fourth lens group G4 is not able to be low, and it is possible to suppress the movement amount of the lens group during the zooming from increasing. Thereby, the fluctuation in aberration during focusing can be suppressed. There is an advantage in shortening the backfocus by reducing a zooming function of the sixth lens group G6. By not allowing the result of Conditional Expression (1) to be equal to or greater than an upper limit, the zooming function of the fourth lens group G4 is not able to be high, and the rays are restrained from being sharply bent in the fourth lens group G4. Accordingly, there is an advantage in suppressing the fluctuation in aberration during the focusing. In addition, in a case of a configuration in which Conditional Expression (1-1) is satisfied, it is possible to obtain more favorable characteristics.

1.5<(β4T/β4W)/(β6T/β6W)<2.5   (1)

1.75<(β4T/β4W)/(β6T/β6W)<2.25   (1-1)

In the zoom lens according to the present embodiment, assuming that a focal length of the first lens group G1 is f1 and a focal length of the sixth lens group G6 is f6, it is preferable that the following Conditional Expression (2) is satisfied. By not allowing the result of Conditional Expression (2) to be equal to or less than a lower limit, there is an advantage in shortening the backfocus and suppressing fluctuation in incidence angle of the rays with the peripheral angle of view on the image plane Sim. By not allowing the result of Conditional Expression (2) to be equal to or greater than an upper limit, there is an advantage in shortening the total length of the lens at the telephoto end. In addition, in a case of a configuration in which Conditional Expression (2-1) is satisfied, it is possible to obtain more favorable characteristics.

0.95<f1/f6<1.9   (2)

1.1<f1/f6<1.7   (2-1)

In the zoom lens according to the present embodiment, assuming that a focal length of the second lens group G2 is f2 and a focal length of the sixth lens group G6 is f6, it is preferable that the following Conditional Expression (3) is satisfied. By not allowing the result of Conditional Expression (3) to be equal to or less than a lower limit, there is an advantage in suppressing the total length of the lens while increasing the zoom ratio. By not allowing the result of Conditional Expression (3) to be equal to or greater than an upper limit, there is an advantage in shortening the backfocus and suppressing the fluctuation in incidence angle of the rays with the peripheral angle of view on the image plane Sim. In addition, in a case of a configuration in which Conditional Expression (3-1) is satisfied, it is possible to obtain more favorable characteristics.

−0.28<f2/f6<−0.11   (3)

−0.25<f2/f6<−0.14   (3-1)

In the zoom lens according to the present embodiment, assuming that the lens of the third lens group G3 closest to the object side is the positive lens and an Abbe number of the positive lens of the third lens group G3 closest to the object side at the d line is ν3f, it is preferable that the following Conditional Expression (4) is satisfied. By not allowing the result of Conditional Expression (4) to be equal to or less than a lower limit, there is an advantage in correcting longitudinal chromatic aberration. By not allowing the result of Conditional Expression (4) to be equal to or greater than an upper limit, there is an advantage in suppressing fluctuations in lateral chromatic aberration at the wide-angle end and the telephoto end. In addition, in a case of a configuration in which Conditional Expression (4-1) is satisfied, it is possible to obtain more favorable characteristics.

25<ν3f<49   (4)

28<ν3f<45   (4-1)

In the zoom lens according to the present embodiment, in a case where the lens of the third lens group G3 closest to the image side is the positive lens and an Abbe number of the positive lens of the third lens group G3 closest to the image side at the d line is ν3r, it is preferable that the following Conditional Expression (5) is satisfied. Conditional Expression (5) is satisfied, and thus, it is possible to suppress the occurrence amount of the lateral chromatic aberration. In addition, in a case of a configuration in which Conditional Expression (5-1) is satisfied, it is possible to obtain more favorable characteristics.

57<ν3r<97   (5)

62<ν3r<87   (5-1)

In the zoom lens according to the present embodiment, assuming that a distance on the optical axis between the lens surface of the third lens group G3 closest to the image side and the lens surface of the fourth lens group G4 closest to the object side at the wide-angle end is D34W and a distance on the optical axis between the lens surface of the third lens group G3 closest to the image side and the lens surface of the fourth lens group G4 closest to the object side at the telephoto end is D34T, it is preferable that the following Conditional Expression (6) is satisfied. By not allowing the result of Conditional Expression (6) to be equal to or less than a lower limit, since it is possible to suppress the height of off-axis rays in the fourth lens group G4 at the telephoto end, it is possible to reduce the lens diameter of the fourth lens group G4 which is the focus group. Accordingly, there is an advantage in securing a space for mechanical components of the focusing drive system, achieving high-speed focusing, and reducing an outer diameter of a product. By not allowing the result of Conditional Expression (6) to be equal to or greater than an upper limit, it is possible to reduce the total length of the lens at the wide-angle end. In addition, in a case of a configuration in which Conditional Expression (6-1) is satisfied, it is possible to obtain more favorable characteristics.

0.2<D34W/D34T<1.2   (6)

0.3<D34W/D34T<1   (6-1)

In the zoom lens according to the present embodiment, assuming that an average of Abbe numbers of the positive lenses within the first lens group G1 at the d line is ν1pave1, it is preferable that Conditional Expression (7) is satisfied. Conditional Expression (7) is satisfied, and thus, there is an advantage in correcting longitudinal chromatic aberrations on a blue side at the telephoto end and in the vicinity of the blue side. In addition, in a case of a configuration in which Conditional Expression (7-1) is satisfied, it is possible to obtain more favorable characteristics.

67<ν1pave<97   (7)

72<ν1pave<87   (7-1)

Although FIG. 1 illustrates the example in which all the six lens groups move during the zooming, the zoom lens according to the present invention may include the lens group fixed to the image plane Sim during the zooming as long as all distances between the adjacent lens groups in the zoom lens change during the zooming.

FIG. 1 illustrates the example in which the optical member PP is disposed between the lens system and the image plane Sim. However, various filters may be disposed between the lenses instead of disposing the low-pass filter and/or the various filters for shielding rays with a specific wavelength range between the lens system and the image plane Sim, or the various filters the lens surface of any of the lenses may be coated so as to have the same functions as the various filters.

The above-mentioned preferred configurations and available configurations may be arbitrary combinations, and it is preferable that the configurations are selectively adopted in accordance with required specification. In accordance with the zoom lens according to the present embodiment, it is possible to achieve high optical performance obtained by satisfactorily correcting various aberrations with regard to imaging over the entire zooming range and from distant view to near view with a small lens system suitable for small and light body such as the mirrorless camera while securing the high zoom ratio. The “high zoom ratio” described herein means a zoom ratio of 10 times or more.

Next, numerical examples of the zoom lens of the present invention will be described.

EXAMPLE 1

FIGS. 1 and 2 are cross-sectional views of a zoom lens of Example 1, and an illustration method thereof is as described above. Therefore, repeated description is partially omitted herein. The zoom lens of Example 1 consists of a first lens group G1 having a positive refractive power, a second lens group G2 having a negative refractive power, an aperture stop St, a third lens group G3 having a positive refractive power, a fourth lens group G4 having a negative refractive power, a fifth lens group G5 having a negative refractive power, and a sixth lens group G6 having a positive refractive power in order from the object side to the image side. All the lens groups move in the optical axis direction with different loci during zooming, and the aperture stop St moves integrally with the third lens group G3. The first lens group G1 consists of three lenses such as lenses L11 to L13 in order from the object side to the image side, the second lens group G2 consists of four lenses such as lenses L21 to L24 in order from the object side to the image side, the third lens group G3 consists of five lenses such as lenses L31 to L35 in order from the object side to the image side, the fourth lens group G4 consists of two lenses such as lenses L41 and L42 in order from the object side to the image side, the fifth lens group G5 consists of one lens such as a lens L51, and the sixth lens group G6 consists of one lens such as a lens L61. The focus group consists of the fourth lens group G4, and the fourth lens group G4 moves toward the image side during the focusing from the object with a long range to an object with a short range. The anti-vibration lens group consists of the lens L35. The outline of the zoom lens of Example 1 has been described above.

Table 1 shows basic lens data of the zoom lens of Example 1, Table 2 shows variable surface distances, and Table 3 shows aspherical surface coefficients thereof. In Table 1, the column of Sn shows surface numbers. The surface closest to the object side is the first surface, and the surface numbers increase one by one toward the image side. The column of R shows radii of curvature of the respective surfaces. The column of D shows surface distances on the optical axis between the respective surfaces and the surfaces adjacent to the image side. Further, the column of Nd shows a refractive index of each constituent element at the d line, the column of νd shows an Abbe number of each constituent element at the d line, and the column of θgF shows a partial dispersion ratio of each constituent element between the g line and the F line. It should be noted that the partial dispersion ratio θgF between the g line and the F line of a certain lens is defined by θgF=(Ng−NF)/(NF−NC), where the refractive indexes of the lens at the g line (a wavelength of 435.8 nm (nanometers)), F line (a wavelength of 486.1 nm (nanometers)), and C line (a wavelength of 656.3 nm (nanometers)) are Ng, NF, and NC, respectively.

In Table 1, reference signs of radii of curvature of surface shapes convex toward the object side are set to be positive, and reference signs of radii of curvature of surface shapes convex toward the image side are set to be negative. Table 1 additionally shows the aperture stop St and the optical member PP. In Table 1, in a place of a surface number of a surface corresponding to the aperture stop St, the surface number and a term of (St) are noted. A value at the bottom place of D in Table 1 indicates a distance between the image plane Sim and the surface closest to the image side in the table. In Table 1, the variable surface distances are referenced by the reference signs DD[ ], and are written into places of D, where object side surface numbers of distances are noted in [ ].

In Table 2, values of the zoom ratio Zr, the focal length f of the entire system, the F number FNo., the maximum total angle of view 2ω, and the variable surface distance are based on the d line. (°) in the place of 2ω indicates that the unit thereof is a degree. In Table 2, values in the wide-angle end state, the middle focal length state, and the telephoto end state are respectively shown in the columns labeled by WIDE, MIDDLE, and TELE. Tables 1 and 2 are values in a state where the object at infinity is in focus.

In Table 1, the reference sign * is attached to surface numbers of aspherical surfaces, and numerical values of the paraxial radius of curvature are written into the column of the radius of curvature of the aspherical surface. In Table 3, the column of Sn shows surface numbers of aspherical surfaces, and the columns of KA and Am (m=3, 4, 5, . . . ) show numerical values of the aspherical surface coefficients of the aspherical surfaces. The “E±n” (n: an integer) in numerical values of the aspherical surface coefficients of Table 3 indicates “×10^(±n)”. KA and Am are aspherical surface coefficients in an aspherical surface expression expressed in the following expression.

Zd=C×h ²/{1+(1−KA×C ² ×h ²)^(1/2) }+ΣAm×h ^(m)

Here, Zd is an aspherical surface depth (a length of a perpendicular from a point on an aspherical surface at height h to a plane that is perpendicular to the optical axis and contacts with the vertex of the aspherical surface),

h is a height (a distance from the optical axis to the lens surface),

C is a paraxial curvature,

KA and Am are aspherical surface coefficients, and Σ in the aspherical surface expression means the sum with respect to m.

In data of each table, a degree is used as a unit of an angle, and mm (millimeter) is used as a unit of a length, but appropriate different units may be used since the optical system can be used even in a case where the system is enlarged or reduced in proportion. Further, each of the following tables shows numerical values rounded off to predetermined decimal places.

TABLE 1 Example 1 Sn R D Nd νd θgF 1 87.31341 1.500 1.64769 33.79 0.59393 2 48.39202 7.086 1.49700 81.61 0.53887 3 477.38483 0.150 4 56.81528 5.128 1.53775 74.70 0.53936 5 246.16254 DD[5]  *6 55.36248 1.400 1.85400 40.38 0.56890 *7 13.70066 7.020 8 −25.12016 0.710 1.56384 60.67 0.54030 9 16.72513 4.912 1.78470 26.29 0.61360 10 −96.61318 2.010 11 −18.06216 0.700 1.83481 42.74 0.56490 12 −31.78051 DD[12] 13(St) ∞ 0.800 *14 22.13205 3.000 1.73077 40.51 0.57279 *15 −362.34440 0.220 16 17.38795 5.855 1.49700 81.61 0.53887 17 −20.92786 0.150 18 −44.52809 0.600 1.91082 35.25 0.58224 19 11.32204 3.082 1.48749 70.24 0.53007 20 22.32907 2.500 *21 17.78291 4.834 1.59522 67.73 0.54426 *22 −27.18638 DD[22] 23 63.06222 2.260 1.80518 25.42 0.61616 24 −41.22773 0.600 1.83481 42.74 0.56490 25 16.32477 DD[25] *26 −39.90460 1.000 1.58913 61.15 0.53824 *27 −94.88059 DD[27] 28 −305.20925 4.318 1.48749 70.24 0.53007 29 −29.97475 DD[29] 30 ∞ 2.850 1.54763 54.99 0.55229 31 ∞ 1.000

TABLE 2 Example 1 WIDE MIDDLE TELE Zr 1.0 3.5 10.5 f 18.561 65.746 194.393 FNo. 3.61 5.48 6.47 2ω(°) 79.4 23.8 8.4 DD[5] 0.800 27.120 55.203 DD[12] 22.391 5.710 1.413 DD[22] 1.410 7.768 3.481 DD[25] 3.609 9.805 12.474 DD[27] 1.555 12.369 20.714 DD[29] 18.560 15.026 28.237

TABLE 3 Example 1 Sn 6 7 14 15 KA 1.0000000E+00 1.0000000E+00 1.0000000E+00 1.0000000E+00 A3 6.0884124E−20 3.1609393E−20 0.0000000E+00 0.0000000E+00 A4 2.8326464E−05 2.9801311E−05 2.8066378E−05 6.1678411E−05 A5 1.1489287E−06 5.4539706E−07 −3.4252381E−06  −2.9478889E−06  A6 −2.9957092E−07  3.4300881E−09 1.8853685E−07 3.3641935E−07 A7 5.8467260E−10 −9.2582971E−10  1.0121366E−07 8.6043403E−08 A8 7.7494336E−10 −2.0891091E−09  −7.9601873E−09  −6.0738970E−09  A9 −1.7916951E−13  4.2592750E−11 −3.9839618E−10  −2.7515833E−10  A10 −7.0429475E−13  5.8027364E−12 3.3051389E−11 2.3660643E−11 Sn 21 22 26 27 KA 1.0000000E+00 1.0000000E+00 1.0000000E+00 1.0000000E+00 A3 0.0000000E+00 −7.8958738E−20  0.0000000E+00 0.0000000E+00 A4 −5.1340861E−05  6.3190783E−06 −8.1994852E−05  −7.6635563E−05  A5 2.6767577E−06 3.4589922E−06 −6.2138338E−06  −4.4994630E−06  A6 1.9995563E−07 1.3626643E−07 2.9069889E−06 2.3717541E−06 A7 −3.5718992E−08  −6.1853729E−08  5.8614043E−08 2.3574149E−08 A8 −2.8828242E−09  −2.0630871E−10  −4.4557451E−08  −3.2482571E−08  A9 1.2759959E−10 2.7289586E−10 −2.5187227E−10  −9.6837820E−11  A10 1.1785166E−11 −2.0553184E−13  2.0469383E−10 1.4408906E−10

FIG. 7 shows aberration diagrams of the zoom lens of Example 1 in a state where the object at infinity is brought into focus. In FIG. 7, in order from the left side, spherical aberration, astigmatism, distortion, and lateral chromatic aberration are shown. In FIG. 7, the upper part labeled by WIDE shows a diagram of aberrations in the wide-angle end state, the middle part labeled by MIDDLE shows a diagram of aberrations in the middle focal length state, the lower part labeled by TELE shows a diagram of aberrations in the telephoto end state. In the spherical aberration diagram, aberrations at the d line, the C line, the F line, and the g line are respectively indicated by the black solid line, the long dashed line, the short dashed line, and the dashed double-dotted line. In the astigmatism diagram, aberration in the sagittal direction at the d line is indicated by the solid line, and aberration in the tangential direction at the d line is indicated by the short dashed line. In the distortion diagram, aberration at the d line is indicated by the solid line. In the lateral chromatic aberration diagram, aberrations at the C line, the F line, and the g line are respectively indicated by the long dashed line, the short dashed line, and the dashed double-dotted line. In the spherical aberration diagram, FNo. indicates an F number. In the other aberration diagrams, ω indicates a half angle of view.

FIG. 8 shows aberration diagrams of the zoom lens of Example 1 in a state where an object at a finite distance is brought into focus. FIG. 8 shows the aberration diagrams in a state where an object at a distance of 1.5 meters (m) from the image plane Sim is brought into focus, and the illustration method and the meanings of reference signs are the same as those in FIG. 7.

Reference signs, meanings, description methods, illustration methods of the respective data pieces related to Example 1 are the same as those in the following examples unless otherwise noted. Therefore, in the following description, repeated description will be omitted.

EXAMPLE 2

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a zoom lens of Example 2. The zoom lens of Example 2 has the same configuration as the outline of the zoom lens of Example 1. Table 4 shows basic lens data of the zoom lens of Example 2, Table 5 shows specification and variable surface distances, and Table 6 shows aspherical surface coefficients. FIG. 9 shows aberration diagrams in a state where the object at infinity is in focus, and FIG. 10 shows aberration diagrams in a state where the object at the distance of 1.5 meters (m) from the image plane Sim is in focus.

TABLE 4 Example 2 Sn R D Nd νd θgF 1 89.36116 1.500 1.64769 33.79 0.59393 2 48.66208 7.184 1.49700 81.61 0.53887 3 624.11772 0.150 4 55.66700 5.285 1.53775 74.70 0.53936 5 251.45782 DD[5]  *6 73.69591 1.400 1.85400 40.38 0.56890 *7 14.22386 7.396 8 −24.86145 0.710 1.56384 60.67 0.54030 9 18.18643 4.958 1.78470 26.29 0.61360 10 −68.22820 1.870 11 −19.14171 0.700 1.83481 42.74 0.56490 12 −34.55352 DD[12] 13(St) ∞ 0.800 14 19.48184 3.286 1.72047 34.71 0.58350 15 −3912.53507 0.150 *16 17.77430 4.284 1.49700 81.61 0.53887 *17 −35.22151 0.150 18 −59.85628 0.600 1.85025 30.05 0.59797 19 11.59025 3.066 1.51823 58.90 0.54567 20 18.47849 2.500 *21 16.06916 5.990 1.49700 81.61 0.53887 *22 −20.77514 DD[22] 23 57.40271 2.494 1.80809 22.76 0.63073 24 −33.34983 0.600 1.85150 40.78 0.56958 25 17.26158 DD[25] *26 −51.63355 1.000 1.85400 40.38 0.56890 *27 −427.82387 DD[27] 28 −303.58843 4.753 1.48749 70.24 0.53007 29 −26.87050 DD[29] 30 ∞ 2.850 1.54763 54.99 0.55229 31 ∞ 1.000

TABLE 5 Example 2 WIDE MIDDLE TELE Zr 1.0 3.5 10.5 f 18.549 65.706 194.273 FNo. 3.61 5.58 6.43 2ω(°) 80.0 24.0 8.4 DD[5] 0.800 26.073 53.559 DD[12] 23.091 6.231 1.439 DD[22] 1.402 6.582 2.087 DD[25] 3.448 7.369 12.095 DD[27] 1.548 15.478 20.112 DD[29] 18.059 16.832 31.176

TABLE 6 Example 2 Sn 6 7 16 17 KA 1.0000000E+00 1.0000000E+00 1.0000000E+00 1.0000000E+00 A3 1.4872458E−20 −1.5804696E−20  0.0000000E+00 −5.9219054E−20  A4 9.9880950E−06 7.2736120E−06 6.4561280E−06 6.8506153E−05 A5 1.0183724E−06 9.1467469E−07 −1.3805838E−06  2.3334448E−08 A6 −1.3595997E−07  −5.6732135E−08  5.0858641E−08 −4.2891278E−07  A7 2.4135596E−09 5.0591126E-09  2.0486473E−08 3.4189402E−08 A8 1.8300736E−10 −4.5633190E−10  −1.4160040E−09  −1.1728770E−09  A9 −5.5441720E−12  3.0779628E−11 −6.8076020E−11  −8.4177376E−11  A10 −3.7447432E−16  1.2345846E−12 5.7894643E−12 9.2937990E−12 Sn 21 22 26 27 KA 1.0000000E+00 1.0000000E+00 1.0000000E+00 1.0000000E+00 A3 3.9479369E−20 0.0000000E+00 0.0000000E+00 0.0000000E+00 A4 −6.4459157E−05  1.9607623E−05 −2.5669774E−05  −1.7288557E−05  A5 4.8073849E−06 4.4354601E−06 3.5513019E−06 3.2501027E−06 A6 −3.3875873E−07  −2.3548343E−07  7.2615198E−07 4.2668168E−07 A7 −5.8082826E−08  −6.1152334E−08  −1.3248243E−07  −8.6652444E−08  A8 3.6898225E−09 3.5717402E−09 −9.7776723E−09  −7.6715578E−09  A9 1.9062263E−10 2.6590608E−10 7.5444907E−10 4.4569658E−10 A10 −8.4962899E−12  −1.1516071E−11  3.5388901E−11 3.8844240E−11

EXAMPLE 3

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a zoom lens of Example 3. The zoom lens of Example 3 has the same configuration as the outline of the zoom lens of Example 1. Table 7 shows basic lens data of the zoom lens of Example 3, Table 8 shows specification and variable surface distances, and Table 9 shows aspherical surface coefficients. FIG. 11 shows aberration diagrams in a state where the object at infinity is in focus, and FIG. 12 shows aberration diagrams in a state where the object at a distance of 1.5 meters (m) from the image plane Sim is in focus.

TABLE 7 Example 3 Sn R D Nd νd θgF 1 84.35548 1.500 1.66680 33.05 0.59578 2 49.86137 7.135 1.49700 81.61 0.53887 3 914.30159 0.150 4 55.41642 5.088 1.49700 81.61 0.53887 5 219.05663 DD[5]  *6 77.54738 1.400 1.85400 40.38 0.56890 *7 14.00511 7.482 8 −23.40369 0.710 1.51742 52.43 0.55649 9 21.27185 4.309 1.84666 23.78 0.62054 10 −82.99347 1.975 11 −18.93869 0.700 1.83481 42.74 0.56490 12 −34.84765 DD[12] 13(St) ∞ 0.800 *14 18.10721 3.000 1.68948 31.02 0.59874 *15 166.66591 0.150 16 20.04253 4.615 1.48749 70.24 0.53007 17 −26.40357 0.150 18 −81.01070 0.600 1.85025 30.05 0.59797 19 11.04283 3.759 1.48749 70.24 0.53007 20 20.77056 2.000 *21 15.59120 5.316 1.49700 81.61 0.53887 *22 −22.66772 DD[22] 23 58.90229 2.260 1.80809 22.76 0.63073 24 −56.84010 0.600 1.83481 42.74 0.56490 25 16.70752 DD[25] *26 −52.64194 1.000 1.58313 59.38 0.54237 *27 −465.69662 DD[27] 28 −268.68277 4.238 1.48749 70.24 0.53007 29 −30.27833 DD[29] 30 ∞ 2.850 1.54763 54.99 0.55229 31 ∞ 1.000

TABLE 8 Example 3 WIDE MIDDLE TELE Zr 1.0 3.5 10.5 f 18.562 65.752 194.408 FNo. 3.61 5.45 6.50 2ω(°) 79.6 23.8 8.4 DD[5] 0.800 25.333 54.582 DD[12] 22.927 4.526 1.436 DD[22] 1.485 8.591 2.463 DD[25] 3.562 8.538 12.273 DD[27] 1.563 11.237 22.683 DD[29] 18.947 16.893 28.982

TABLE 9 Example 3 Sn 6 7 14 15 KA 1.0000000E+00 1.0000000E+00 1.0000000E+00 1.0000000E+00 A3 5.9489831E−20 3.9511741E−21 0.0000000E+00 −7.8958738E−20  A4 3.3317471E−05 3.0882086E−05 2.9397718E−05 7.1465901E−05 A5 −1.0602309E−06  −1.8307406E−06  −4.3654816E−06  −4.9256857E−06  A6 −1.8424144E−07  2.6184353E−08 1.7942032E−07 5.6723298E−07 A7 1.2871194E−08 5.8190261E−09 1.2213072E−07 8.6738357E−08 A8 −6.1153209E−11  −9.7055271E−10  −9.7640910E−09  −8.7847359E−09  A9 −1.8149390E−11  7.7475782E−12 −4.9894742E−10  −3.3351354E−10  A10 6.7379815E−13 1.3073137E−13 4.2884152E−11 2.9522644E−11 Sn 21 22 26 27 KA  1.0000000E+00 1.0000000E+00  1.0000000E+00 1.0000000E+00 A3  1.1843811E−19 0.0000000E+00 −8.6736174E−20 0.0000000E+00 A4 −6.7317725E−05 1.2230681E−05 −1.6512370E−04 −1.4948073E−04  A5  6.9008062E−06 8.3632239E−06  1.4807192E−05 1.1190323E−05 A6 −6.4244335E−07 −8.0693892E−07   1.5665174E−06 1.8223591E−06 A7 −9.9583275E−09 −1.5523467E−08  −3.1692500E−07 −3.0535606E−07  A8  6.4411699E−09 7.6978380E−09 −1.8203805E−09 −3.3842656E−09  A9 −2.6847434E−10 −2.8383497E−10   1.4765209E−09 1.6966984E−09 A10 −1.4111654E−11 6.6584360E−12 −5.2262792E−11 −5.4110442E−11  A11  1.1510986E−12 1.5517724E−12 A12 −1.4260736E−14 −1.4214960E−13 

EXAMPLE 4

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a zoom lens of Example 4. The zoom lens of Example 4 has the same configuration as the outline of the zoom lens of Example 1. A lens L21 of Example 4 is a complex aspherical lens. Table 10 shows basic lens data of the zoom lens of Example 4, Table 11 shows specification and variable surface distances, and Table 12 shows aspherical surface coefficients. FIG. 13 shows aberration diagrams in a state where the object at infinity is in focus, and FIG. 14 shows aberration diagrams in a state where the object at a distance of 1.5 meters (m) from the image plane Sim is in focus.

TABLE 10 Example 4 Sn R D Nd νd θgF 1 84.75133 1.500 1.73800 32.33 0.59005 2 52.84624 7.075 1.49700 81.61 0.53887 3 958.80303 0.150 4 54.96431 5.179 1.49700 81.61 0.53887 5 227.11481 DD[5]  *6 75.17995 0.200 1.51876 54.04 0.55938 7 59.06751 1.400 1.83400 37.21 0.58082 8 13.71704 7.788 9 −22.12760 0.710 1.51742 52.43 0.55649 10 21.83549 4.497 1.84666 23.78 0.62054 11 −60.71171 1.601 12 −20.32028 0.700 1.83481 42.74 0.56490 13 −44.87909 DD[13] 14(St) ∞ 0.800 *15 18.16669 3.000 1.68948 31.02 0.59874 *16 170.88517 0.150 17 20.03989 4.685 1.48749 70.24 0.53007 18 −25.36075 0.150 19 −71.95304 0.600 1.85025 30.05 0.59797 20 10.95195 3.189 1.48749 70.24 0.53007 21 21.95796 2.000 *22 15.75973 5.140 1.49700 81.61 0.53887 *23 −22.63864 DD[23] 24 66.44848 2.260 1.80809 22.76 0.63073 25 −47.06499 0.600 1.83481 42.74 0.56490 26 17.10792 DD[26] *27 −57.72176 1.000 1.53409 55.87 0.55858 *28 −366.83956 DD[28] 29 −113.50432 3.597 1.48749 70.24 0.53007 30 −29.29827 DD[30] 31 ∞ 2.850 1.54763 54.99 0.55229 32 ∞ 1.000

TABLE 11 Example 4 WIDE MIDDLE TELE Zr 1.0 3.7 10.5 f 18.562 68.444 194.405 FNo. 3.61 5.53 6.51 2ω(°) 79.6 22.8 8.4 DD[5] 0.800 26.019 55.209 DD[13] 23.482 4.156 1.406 DD[23] 1.429 8.474 2.459 DD[26] 3.445 10.757 11.964 DD[28] 1.560 9.159 21.872 DD[30] 19.547 17.578 28.771

TABLE 12 Example 4 Sn 6 15 16 KA 1.0000000E+00 1.0000000E+00 1.0000000E+00 A3 1.4872458E−20 −1.5791748E−19  7.8958738E−20 A4 1.4293606E−05 2.6289170E−05 6.8586051E−05 A5 −7.6243133E−08  −2.7829674E−06  −3.6000591E−06  A6 −4.2898093E−08  5.1250899E−08 5.3894761E−07 A7 3.5373115E−09 1.1726524E−07 6.9479853E−08 A8 −1.4330250E−10  −8.7067361E−09  −6.9900114E−09  A9 −3.4679000E−12  −4.8315943E−10  −2.8763740E−10  A10 4.9657578E−13 4.0422146E−11 2.3285042E−11 Sn 22 23 27 28 KA  1.0000000E+00  1.0000000E+00 1.0000000E+00 1.0000000E+00 A3 −5.9219054E−20 −3.9479369E−20 −4.3368087E−20  0.0000000E+00 A4 −6.9532205E−05  8.9556622E−06 −1.2945188E−04  −1.1219871E−04  A5  6.8042964E−06  8.7459941E−06 1.0229474E−05 6.5487738E−06 A6 −5.7873869E−07 −8.8567872E−07 1.6185768E−06 1.8009706E−06 A7 −2.7316586E−08 −1.8628087E−08 −1.9338886E−07  −1.9588467E−07  A8  8.3795341E−09  9.7387874E−09 −1.2599121E−08  −1.1267627E−08  A9 −1.0053801E−10 −3.3602579E−10 7.6038947E−10 1.0637196E−09 A10 −4.1478234E−11 −6.3837227E−12 2.8909648E−11 2.8061860E−12 A11  7.0783164E−13  1.8603707E−12 A12  7.4114490E−14 −1.1884796E−13

EXAMPLE 5

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a zoom lens of Example 5. The zoom lens of Example 5 has the same configuration as the outline of the zoom lens of Example 1. A lens L21 of Example 5 is a complex aspherical lens. Table 13 shows basic lens data of the zoom lens of Example 5, Table 14 shows specification and variable surface distances, and Table 15 shows aspherical surface coefficients. FIG. 15 shows aberration diagrams in a state where the object at infinity is in focus, and FIG. 16 shows aberration diagrams in a state where the object at a distance of 1.5 meters (m) from the image plane Sim is in focus.

TABLE 13 Example 5 Sn R D Nd νd θgF 1 84.71081 1.500 1.73800 32.33 0.59005 2 53.55987 7.418 1.49700 81.61 0.53887 3 1450.19213 0.150 4 57.75495 5.173 1.49700 81.61 0.53887 5 220.51162 DD[5]  *6 66.03826 0.300 1.51876 54.04 0.55938 7 56.39697 1.200 1.83400 37.21 0.58082 8 13.47361 8.109 9 −21.76017 0.710 1.51742 52.43 0.55649 10 21.70418 4.382 1.84666 23.78 0.62054 11 −70.75984 1.698 12 −20.07004 0.700 1.83481 42.74 0.56490 13 −38.17740 DD[13] 14(St) ∞ 0.800 *15 17.29640 3.000 1.68948 31.02 0.59874 *16 166.67583 0.150 17 20.98487 4.591 1.48749 70.24 0.53007 18 −25.06299 0.150 19 −81.19765 0.600 1.85025 30.05 0.59797 20 10.48395 3.308 1.48749 70.24 0.53007 21 21.62271 2.000 *22 15.86412 4.901 1.49700 81.61 0.53887 *23 −23.67940 DD[23] 24 53.83432 2.047 1.80809 22.76 0.63073 25 −68.74251 0.600 1.83481 42.74 0.56490 26 16.15453 DD[26] *27 −57.53685 1.000 1.53409 55.87 0.55858 *28 −2502.20531 DD[28] 29 −87.97978 3.832 1.48749 70.24 0.53007 30 −25.34770 DD[30] 31 ∞ 2.850 1.54763 54.99 0.55229 32 ∞ 1.000

TABLE 14 Example 5 WIDE MIDDLE TELE Zr 1.0 3.7 10.5 f 18.558 68.429 194.361 FNo. 3.61 5.74 6.49 2ω(°) 78.2 23.0 8.4 DD[5] 0.800 24.719 57.136 DD[13] 23.274 3.764 1.426 DD[23] 1.471 8.416 1.809 DD[26] 3.533 10.983 17.232 DD[28] 1.563 8.603 15.094 DD[30] 19.216 20.370 30.324

TABLE 15 Example 5 Sn 6 15 16 KA 1.0000000E+00  1.0000000E+00 1.0000000E+00 A3 −2.4276014E−20  −4.3368087E−20 0.0000000E+00 A4 1.5475841E−05  2.0837324E−05 6.8845365E−05 A5 −3.3812045E−07  −1.9902782E−06 −3.6824306E−06  A6 −2.0599396E−08  −2.8749911E−07 3.6192735E−07 A7 5.6685427E−09  1.3036548E−07 8.8192414E−08 A8 −4.4293362E−10  −5.8373906E−09 −7.5020753E−09  A9 3.6537360E−12 −7.3377011E−10 −5.1711433E−10  A10 6.0644102E−13  1.2198849E−11 8.0889195E−12 Sn 22 23 27 28 KA 1.0000000E+00 1.0000000E+00 1.0000000E+00 1.0000000E+00 A3 1.3877788E−18 1.3877788E−18 0.0000000E+00 0.0000000E+00 A4 −4.0743079E−05  3.1529520E−05 −2.3107642E−04  −2.1034145E−04  A5 −1.6352409E−05  −7.8595749E−06  2.1633360E−05 1.7578744E−05 A6 9.9720128E−06 5.8233200E−06 2.3121322E−06 2.2445862E−06 A7 −2.6703164E−06  −1.7176068E−06  −4.6603486E−07  −4.0212625E−07  A8 3.8909131E−07 2.7120790E−07 −5.4648501E−09  −6.1941686E−09  A9 −3.0321710E−08  −2.2614184E−08  2.1319079E−09 2.2341188E−09 A10 9.8325654E−10 7.8431226E−10 −1.9106189E−11  −4.3519710E−11 

Table 16 shows values corresponding to Conditional Expressions (1) to (7) of the zoom lenses of Examples 1 to 5. In Examples 1 to 5, the d line is set as the reference wavelength. Table 16 shows the values on the d line basis.

TABLE 16 Expres- sion Exam- Exam- Exam- Exam- Exam- Number ple 1 ple 2 ple 3 ple 4 ple 5 (1) (β4T/β4W)/ 1.91 2.19 1.87 1.78 2.00 (β6T/β6W) (2) f1/f6 1.41 1.54 1.36 1.20 1.37 (3) f2/f6 −0.19 −0.22 −0.19 −0.17 −0.19 (4) ν3f 40.51 34.71 31.02 31.02 31.02 (5) ν3r 67.73 81.61 81.61 81.61 81.61 (6) D34W/D34T 0.41 0.67 0.60 0.58 0.81 (7) ν1pave 78.15 78.15 81.61 81.61 81.61

As can be seen from the above data, in the zoom lens of Examples 1 to 5, the high zoom ratio is ensured such that the zoom ratio is equal to or greater than 10, reduction in size is achieved, and various aberrations are satisfactorily corrected with regard to imaging over the entire zooming range and from distant view to near view. Accordingly, high optical performance is achieved.

Next, an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIGS. 17 and 18 are external views of a camera 30 which is the imaging apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 17 is a perspective view in a case where the camera 30 is viewed from the front side, and FIG. 18 is a perspective view in a case where the camera 30 is viewed from the rear side. The camera 30 is a mirrorless digital camera to which an interchangeable lens 20 is detachably attached. The interchangeable lens 20 includes the zoom lens 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention which is accommodated in a lens barrel.

The camera 30 comprises a camera body 31, and a shutter button 32 and a power button 33 are provided on the upper surface of the camera body 31. A manipulation unit 34, a manipulation unit 35, and a display unit 36 are provided on the rear surface of the camera body 31. The display unit 36 displays a captured image and an image within an angle of view before the image is captured.

An imaging opening on which rays from an imaging target are incident is formed in the central portion of the front surface of the camera body 31, a mount 37 is provided in a position corresponding to the imaging opening, and the interchangeable lens 20 is attached to the camera body 31 through the mount 37.

An imaging element such as a charge coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) that outputs imaging signals corresponding to a subject image formed by the interchangeable lens 20, a signal processing circuit that generates an image by processing the imaging signals output from the imaging element, and a recording medium for recording the generated image are provided within the camera body 31. In the camera 30, it is possible to image a still image or a motion picture by pressing the shutter button 32, and image data obtained through the imaging is recorded in the recording medium.

The present invention has been hitherto described through embodiments and examples, but the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments and examples, and may be modified into various forms. For example, values such as the radius of curvature, the surface distance, the refractive index, the Abbe number, and the aspherical surface coefficient of each lens are not limited to the values shown in the numerical examples, and different values may be used therefor.

The imaging apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the examples. For example, various aspects such as cameras other than non-reflex cameras, film cameras, video cameras, movie shooting cameras, and broadcasting cameras may be used. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A zoom lens comprising: only six lens groups, as lens groups, which consist of a first lens group having a positive refractive power, a second lens group having a negative refractive power, a third lens group having a positive refractive power, a fourth lens group having a negative refractive power, a fifth lens group having a negative refractive power, and a sixth lens group having a positive refractive power, in order from an object side to an image side, wherein all distances between adjacent lens groups in an optical axis direction change during zooming, a stop is disposed between a lens surface of the second lens group closest to the image side and a lens surface of the fourth lens group closest to the image side, the first lens group consists of a negative lens, a positive lens, and a positive lens in order from the object side to the image side, a lens group moving during focusing is only the fourth lens group, and the fourth lens group moves to the image side during focusing from an object with a long range to an object with a short range, and wherein a lens of the third lens group closest to the object side is a positive lens, and assuming that an Abbe number of the positive lens of the third lens group closest to the object side at a d line is ν3f, Conditional Expression (4) is satisfied, 25<ν3f<49   (4).
 2. The zoom lens according to claim 1, wherein assuming that a focal length of the first lens group is f1 and a focal length of the sixth lens group is f6, Conditional Expression (2) is satisfied, 0.95<f1/f6<−1.9   (2).
 3. The zoom lens according to claim 1, wherein assuming that a focal length of the second lens group is f2 and a focal length of the sixth lens group is f6, Conditional Expression (3) is satisfied, −0.28<f2/f6<−0.11   (3).
 4. The zoom lens according to claim 1, wherein a lens of the third lens group closest to the image side is a positive lens, and assuming that an Abbe number of the positive lens of the third lens group closest to the image side at a d line is ν3r, Conditional Expression (5) is satisfied, 57<ν3r<97   (5).
 5. The zoom lens according to claim 1, wherein assuming that a distance on an optical axis between a lens surface of the third lens group closest to the image side at a wide-angle end and a lens surface of the fourth lens group closest to the object side at the wide-angle end is D34W and a distance on the optical axis between a lens surface of the third lens group closest to the image side at a telephoto end and a lens surface of the fourth lens group closest to the object side at the telephoto end is D34T, Conditional Expression (6) is satisfied, 0.2<D34W/D34T<1.2   (6).
 6. The zoom lens according to claim 1, wherein assuming that an average of Abbe numbers of positive lenses within the first lens group at a d line is ν1pave, Conditional Expression (7) is satisfied, 67<ν1pave<97   (7).
 7. The zoom lens according to claim 1, wherein the third lens group consists of a single lens having a positive refractive power, a single lens having a positive refractive power, a cemented lens obtained by cementing a negative lens and a positive lens in order from the object side, and a single lens having a positive refractive power in order from the object side to the image side.
 8. The zoom lens according to claim 1, wherein the fourth lens group consists of a cemented lens obtained by cementing a positive lens and a negative lens in order from the object side.
 9. The zoom lens according to claim 1, wherein the fifth lens group consists of a single lens having a negative refractive power.
 10. The zoom lens according to claim 1, wherein the sixth lens group consists of a single lens having a positive refractive power.
 11. The zoom lens according to claim 2, wherein Conditional Expression (2-1) is satisfied, 1.1<f1/f6<1.7   (2-1).
 12. The zoom lens according to claim 3, wherein Conditional Expression (3-1) is satisfied, −0.25<f2/f6<−0.14   (3-1).
 13. The zoom lens according to claim 1, wherein Conditional Expression (4-1) is satisfied, 28<ν3f<45   (4-1).
 14. The zoom lens according to claim 4, wherein Conditional Expression (5-1) is satisfied, 62<ν3r<87   (5-1).
 15. The zoom lens according to claim 5, wherein Conditional Expression (6-1) is satisfied, 0.3<D34W/D34T<1   (6-1).
 16. The zoom lens according to claim 6, wherein Conditional Expression (7-1) is satisfied, 72<ν1pave<87   (7-1).
 17. An imaging apparatus comprising the zoom lens according to claim
 1. 